Placement Exams

Placement in math, reading, and writing courses at Missouri Western is determined by ACT/SAT subscores. Depending on your scores, you may be required to take development courses before completing your general education requirements in these areas.

If you have not taken the ACT/SAT or if you are unsatisfied with your ACT/SAT score placement, we encourage you to consider any of the placement tests listed below. Taking these exams could save you time and money as you complete your degree, because they often allow students to test into higher-level courses. Missouri Western placement exams are free, and they are all available for students to take through the Griffon Orientation (GO) process.

Griffon Orientation (GO) Placement Exams

Each placement exam takes place the day BEFORE your GO. For example, if you are attending GO on June 12th, your placement exams will be on June 11th. If you miss your placement exam date, you can always take them on a different scheduled day, as long as it does not conflict with your GO. You will not be allowed to leave the GO program to take an exam.

The Mathematics Placement Exam

The Mathematics Placement Exam (MPE) was created by Missouri Western faculty using institutional data to more accurately place students into courses where they will have a higher chance of success. The MPE is a 50-minute proctored exam that may be taken/retaken once per week, with the highest score credited to the student record.

Prior to taking the MPE, students are encouraged to review the topics assessed by the MPE by visiting the Mathematics Placement website. Available resources include video tutorials, downloadable worksheets, sample online problems identical to the problems appearing on the MPE, as well as a sample exam.

Refer to the chart below for the necessary ACT Math subscore OR MPE scores needed to place into Missouri Western general studies math courses.

ACT Math Subset Score

SAT MATH Subscore

MPE Score

Course Placement

0–17

0-480

0 – 39

MAT 083

18-21

490-530

40 – 69

MAT 110E or 111E

22-36

540-800

70 – 100

MAT 110, 111, 112, or 116

25-36

590-800

MAT 165 or 167

The Reading Placement Exam

The Reading Placement Exam is administered by the Center for Academic Support. This exam is also known as the Next Generation Accuplacer Reading Comprehension Exam. It is a self-paced test given on a computer, and it consists of questions related to reading comprehension and sentence skills. If you scored a 17 or below on the Reading ACT but you believe you have strong critical reading skills, then you should consider taking the Reading Placement Exam. The exam is available on several days prior to the start of the semester.

ENG 104 College Writing and Rhetoric, a required general studies course, also requires an 18 ACT Reading Subset Score or a 250 on the Reading Placement Exam as a prerequisite. Students who do not have an 18 ACT reading subset score or have not passed the Reading Placement Exam with a 250 or higher must take RDG 095 Reading Skills Improvement and pass with a C or higher to advance to ENG 104.

RDG 095 Reading Skills Improvement is designed for students who need to improve their understanding of written expression. The focus of the course is on higher-level comprehension and vocabulary skills.

Refer to the chart below for the necessary ACT reading OR Reading Placement Exam scores needed to test out of RDG 095.

ACT Reading Subscore

SAT Reading/English Subscore

Reading Placement Exam Score

Course Placement

0-17

0-490

0-249

RDG 095

18-36

500 or higher

250 or higher

No Reading course required

The Writing Placement Exam

The Writing Placement Exam (WPE) is administered and scored by the English and Modern Languages (EML) Department. The test consists of one essay written on the assigned topic during a 45-minute period. You will be asked to read a brief article and then write a text-based response, in academic essay format, to that article. The WPE can be taken only once, and it is for the students who have not yet been enrolled in/attempted an English composition course. The WPE will be given only on scheduled days and times during registration sessions. There will be no additional or make-up sessions. In addition, the WPE will not be given once classes begin. If your English ACT is below 18, but you believe you have strong critical thinking, reading and writing skills, then you should consider taking the WPE. Also, if you do not have an ACT score then you should consider taking the WPE. If not, you will be placed in ENG 100.

Placement in ENG 100 Introduction to College Writing: If your score is below our cut-off, you will enroll in ENG 100 Introduction to College Writing. This is a three-credit, college level course which counts toward graduation in all two-year and four-year programs. It prepares students to succeed in ENG 104 and ENG 108 as well as many other classes that require academic writing. In this course, students will refine their writing process, engage in critical reading, thinking and writing and be required to write both personal and text-based essays.

Placement in ENG 104 College Writing and Rhetoric: If your score is above our cut-off, you will enroll in ENG 104 College Writing and Rhetoric. ENG 104 counts toward graduation, fulfilling the General Studies composition requirement for a two-year degree. For a four-year degree, you will also need to take ENG 108 College Writing and Research.

Refer to the chart below for the necessary ACT English OR WPE scores needed to place into Missouri Western composition courses.

ACT English Subscore

SAT Reading/English Subscore

WPE Score

Course Placement

0-17

0-490

1-3

ENG 100

18 or higher

500-610

4-5

ENG 104

26 or higher

620 or higher

6

ENG 112

The Modern Languages Placement Exam

Missouri Western also offers the Modern Languages Placement Exam, administered by the EML Department. If you have studied French, German, Spanish, or Chinese in high school or college and wish to receive credit, or if you are unsure which course level is the best one for you to continue your language studies, then we encourage you to take the standardized placement test. Depending on the results, you may be eligible for 3 to 12 hours of credit. This exam is available on several days prior to the start of the semester.